‘TODAY” show weatherman Al Roker shocked TV pals Katie Couric and Matt Lauer this week when he returned from surgery sporting a full beard.
Roker – who was knocked off the air for five weeks by a knee-replacement – says he didn’t purposely go out to grow a beard.
In fact, he just isn’t shaving anymore.
Roker is taking Cumiden, a blood-thinner prescribed after his surgery to prevent blood clots.
He says he doesn’t want to risk cutting himself while shaving, which would cause him to bleed uncontrollably.
“With knee surgery, you run the risk of blood clots, and I’ll be taking [the Cumiden] for the next couple of weeks,” he says. “I tried shaving, and I cut myself – I’m not a good shaver – and I don’t want pieces of paper towel stuck to my face.
“The beard is a temporary situation,” he says. “After I’ve run my course of Cumiden, I’ll probably get rid of [the beard].”
Roker said he began sprouting the whiskers soon after June 6, his last day on “Today” before the knee surgery.
“Once you have the surgery you can’t take a shower and it was easier not to shave,” he says. “It was like a vacation – only with horrible food and getting stuck [with needles] in places you don’t want to get stuck.”
Roker says his wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, “doesn’t mind” the beard.
“But I think she’ll be glad when it’s gone,” he says. “Let’s face it – it’s a beard. But everyone seems to like it. I won’t be sorry to see it go.”
“Early Show” host Bryant Gumbel returned from vacation last April with a beard – which he shaved off shortly thereafter.